antique edges ( antique style )

A further embellishment of the edges of a book
following gilding. It involves applying gold of a
different hue, e.g., LEMON gold, over the
gilded edge, with the design being worked into the
overlaid gold; the untouched (new) gold then is
rubbed off. Sometimes the effect of antique edges
is produced without the designs if the original
gold is left unburnished, or is burnished and then
washed with water. The technique is seldom
employed today. See also: GAUFFERED EDGES . (241 , 343 )